Convert IFC to DAE in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read IFC files and write DAE, generating the DAE mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads IFC · Writes COLLADA
- Mixed geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
IFC to DAE at a glance
IFC can mix exact solids and facets; COLLADA stores triangles only, so the whole model is tessellated when it is written.
| IFC (source) | COLLADA (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Industry Foundation Classes | COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange |
| Standard / owner | buildingSMART, ISO 16739 | Khronos Group, ISO/PAS 17506 |
| File extensions | .ifc, .ifczip | .dae, .zae |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep and tessellated geometry | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: spatial and element hierarchy | Yes: scene hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from IFC to COLLADA.
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Changes
Geometry is tessellatedThe exact IFC B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.
Why software vendors add IFC to DAE conversion
Lightweight review
COLLADA carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.
Sharing outside engineering
Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A COLLADA file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, COLLADA files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written DAE versions: COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
- The DAE writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
- Supported IFC input: IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2, from .ifc and .ifczip files.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is an IFC (.ifc) file?
IFC is the open, vendor-neutral standard for exchanging building information models, maintained by buildingSMART and published as ISO 16739. It carries building elements with their geometry, properties and relationships.
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Target format
What is a DAE (COLLADA) file?
COLLADA (.dae) is an XML-based open format from the Khronos Group for exchanging 3D scenes: meshes, materials, cameras and lights. It is common in visualization and AR/VR pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from IFC when it writes DAE. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.
The DAE writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
3D InterOp reads IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2, from .ifc and .ifczip files.
3D InterOp writes COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so DAE to IFC is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert IFC to DAE?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read IFC and write COLLADA alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.